1st week
Algol
Hamish Tait, Robin Hastie & Jim Hepburn
Sun 23 Sep 2007 15:34
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That's us survived a week in Zidim. We
didn't meet the local chief after all - guess he had better things to do! Anne
has now met her counterpart/local volunteer, who goes by the name Godam Albert.
He appeared at our door 7am on Tuesday morning, full of enthusiasm. Anne had to
go back to Maroua for a meeting for the education programme with volunteers,
inspectors and counterparts on Friday. She was able to get a lift with Sylvia
who was going into Maroua on Wednesday for a meeting of the HIV/AIDS treatment
committee. Then on Saturday, she got a lift back from Chrystel who runs the
Baptist Mission in Maroua with her husband.
On Tuesday, we went to the local market
with Jutta Krebs and managed to stock up with some fresh food, including fresh
meat. The market looks quite colourful and fascinating, but we only had a short
time there.
My learning curve is very steep! The
range of pathology is incredible and treatment protocols are based on what works
locally rather than scientific evidence. In addition, language is a barrier to
communication, I have to write notes in French, abbreviations/shorthand are
quite different. On top of that, at the end of a consultation, I have to
write down every treatment ordered and add up the cost including the
consultation fee and the cost of the paper the bill is written on! Needless to
say decisions on management of patients is influenced to a great extent by
cost!
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